Improvement in devices for detaching animals from vehicles



G. H. W HIT A K E R 85 J 0 ."PART I N. Device for Detaching A nimaJls'from Vehicles.

Patented ec. 23, 1879.

MNVENTORS WITNESSES 4 @M ATTQRNH 'rEE'r ,CFFICE.

GEORGE E. WHITAKER AND JAMES 0.1?ARTIN, or MARTIN, TENEEssEE, ASSIGNORS 0E ONE-THIRD OF THEIR RIGHT TO WILLIAM :r. BATTOE,

OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FORDETACHING ANIMALS FROM VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 222,804, dated December 23, 1879; application filed October 4, 1879.

have invented certain new and useful ]m-' provemen ts in Devices for Detaching Animals from Vehicles; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in devices for detaching horses or other draft-animals from vehicles in case of runaways or accidents; and it has for its object to provide-a means forinstaiitaneousl y releasing the traces of the animal from the whifiietree-fastenin gs, and at the same time applying the brakes to the wheels, as more fully hereinafter specified.

To this end the invention consists in the combination, with the whiffletree of a vehicle, of a longitudinal rock shaft journaled in double standards at each end of the whiffletree, and projecting beyond the same, and two. short rock-shafts, one at each end of the whiffletree, said last-mentioned shafts being provided with slotted crankarms, in the slots of which bent pins on the longitudinal rockshafts are adapted to operate, the outer ends of the short rock-shafts projecting beyond the standards, and being bent at right angles to the shaft, forming, with the ends of the longitudinal rock-shaft, trace-fastenings, the longitudinal shaft being provided with an arm connected by means of a rod with a lever secured to the vehicle and under control of the driver, Wherebythe trace-fastenings may be thrown open to release the traces, as more fully hereinafter specified.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a buggy, with portions broken away to show our improvement. Fig. 2 shows an inverted view of the buggy, showing the brake-lever and trace-detachin g lever; and Fig. 3 represents a detached perspective view, showing the whiffletree and trace-detaching mechanism of the same.

I The letter A indicates the body of the vehicle, which may be of any style or class; B, the running-gear of the same, and G the shafts, which may be of the ordinary construction.

The letter D indicates the whiffletree pivoted to the shafts, as usual. The said whiffletree, at each end, is provided with double upright standards E, in which is journaled a longitudinal rock-shaft, F, its ends projecting a short distance beyond the outer standards at each end of the whiffietree.

The letter G indicates two short rock-shafts, pivoted in the double standards at each end of the whiffietree, respectively. Said shafts are provided at their inner ends with slotted crank-arms H,in the slots of which are adapted to work the bent pins I, secured to the rock-. shaft F. The outer ends of the rock-shafts G are bent at right angles, so as to form, with the ends of the shaft F, trace-fasteners, which hold and secure the trace when the longitudinal rock-shaft is in the position shown in Fig. 3, and release said trace when in the position shown in Fig. 2. The longitudinal rock-shaft is provided with an arm, K, to which is secured one end of a rod, L, extending back to the vehicle, the other end being connected to a lever, M, fulcrumed in a slot, N in the bottom of the vehicle, the upper end being within convenient reach of the foot of the driver.

The letter 0 indicates the brake-lever, which is bifurcated, the arms embracing the lever M, the said lever 0 being fulcrumed on the same pin as the lever M. The upper end of the lever M is provided with a pivoted footpiece, P, which may be interlocked with the end of the lever 0, so as to carry the two levers together, or unlocked, so as to permit the levers to move independently. The brake-lever is attached to the brake-carrier It by means of a rod, S, in the usual manner.

The draft-animal is harnessed in the shafts in such manner that when the traces are re shafts, leaving the animal free.

Havingdescribed our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

In combination with the whiffletree of a "ehicle, the longitudinal shaft journaled in double standards at the ends of the Whiffletree, the short rock-shafts jonrnaled in said standards, and connected with the longitudinal shaft, as described, and mechanism for operleased the harness will readily slip from the ating the longitudinal shaft to release the V6 have hereunto set our hands this 7th day of August, 1879.

GEORGE H. WHITAKER. JAMES C. PARTIN.

Witnesses:

W. P. JOHNSON, '1. S. BYERS. 

